VIDEO: Cancer survivor and retired teacher wows by cycling 881 miles for charity

By Sophie Wills

An inspirational cancer survivor embarked on a mission to beat the disease that threatened his life by cycling 881 miles over ten days for charity.

Retired teacher Graham Bates, of Hardstoft Avenue, Worksop, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012 and battled the disease while acting as full-time carer to his wife, Maureen, who broke both her arms in a fall just months later.

Graham Bates has just completed cycling the equivalent of Lands End to John O'Groats for charity

The 66-year-old, who taught biology at Valley school for 23 years, has since gone on to beat the illness and is now determined to raise awareness of prostate cancer while raising funds for charity along the way.

Graham decided to cycle 881 miles, the equivalent of Lands End to John O’Groats, across the region to raise money for three charities- Prostate Cancer UK, Children of Fiji and the Aurora Wellness Centre based in Worksop.

“Originally, I was going to cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s end with my friend Dave who unfortunately broke his pelvis when he was knocked off his bike before we took on the challenge.”

“I decided to do the same mileage- cycling around 60 miles a day, usually up to Leeds and back, and reached my goal of 881 miles within ten days. I have raised around £800 and would like to thank everyone who has sponsored me.”

“My total time in the saddle was 60 hours, 12 minutes and 16 seconds.”

Asked how he felt after cycling all that way, Graham said: “Let’s just say the other philosopher cyclists’ theory about saddle soreness being a state of mind is complete rubbish.”

“I’d like to thanks my wife for her unstinting support, Dan at Approved Foods for donating a veritable mountain of high-energy grub, the staff at the Station Hotel for their donations and my buttocks for lasting long enough for me to finish the challenge.”

For more information on how you can get involved, email Graham at batesyno1@googlemail.com